Alberto Ruiz

Alberto Ruiz, known to some as “Beto,” was a 28-year-old Hispanic man living in Long Beach, California. Friends remembered him as a friendly person who worked a blue-collar job. He may have attended Cabrillo High School in the city where he spent his life. His own life was cut short in a sudden act of violence that left a community with questions that remain unanswered years later.

In the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, July 22, 2017, the sound of gunfire shattered the quiet in Long Beach’s Willmore neighborhood. At approximately 2:30 a.m., dispatchers at the Long Beach Police Department received calls reporting shots fired near the intersection of 4th Street and Maine Avenue. The area, part of a historic district known for its distinctive architecture and vibrant community, became the scene of a tragedy.

When officers arrived at 2:31 a.m., they discovered Alberto Ruiz lying in the street. He had sustained a life-ending gunshot wound to his upper torso. Paramedics with the Long Beach Fire Department were called to the scene, but there was nothing they could do. According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s records, Alberto was pronounced dead at 2:41 a.m., just minutes after he was found.

The Long Beach Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation, with Detectives Goodman and Mattia assigned to the case. They canvassed the area for evidence and potential witnesses who might have seen or heard something in the moments leading up to the shooting. In their initial statements to the public, police said they were investigating the shooting as possibly gang-related, though no specific motive was confirmed or released. The investigation was active as detectives pursued all available leads, but no description of a suspect or a vehicle was made public.

In the days following the shooting, the coroner’s office officially identified the victim as Alberto Ruiz, a resident of Long Beach. His death was a stark reminder of the toll of gun violence. While police appealed to the public for help, the case grew cold. There were no announced arrests, no named persons of interest, and no further updates released on the progress of the investigation. The trail of information seemed to end as quickly as it began, leaving Alberto’s family and friends without answers or justice.

Years have passed since Alberto Ruiz was killed, and his homicide remains unsolved. The case is a painful open wound for his loved ones and the Long Beach community. The fundamental questions of who targeted him and why remain locked in the silence of that summer night. The Long Beach Police Department continues to seek information that could provide a breakthrough. As of the last available reports, the investigation is ongoing, waiting for the one crucial tip that could solve the case.

Detectives urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Anyone with knowledge regarding the murder of Alberto Ruiz is asked to contact the Long Beach Police Homicide Detail at (562) 570-7244. For those who wish to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling (800) 222-TIPS (8477).